Workforce Predictions and Horse Manure

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) recently released a new report detailing their predictions for the physician workforce of the future. The accompanying press release highlighted the key finding of the report: by 2030, the US “physician shortage” will be between 40,000 and roughly 105,000 physicians. The projection is based on a few assumptions, including that the 2015 physician workforce was “in balance” (enough doctors to meet demand); the aging of the population; retirement trends among physicians; and improvements in access to care for traditionally underserved populations.

Mostly the report made me think of horse manure. Specifically, it reminded me of frequently quoted predictions, made in the late 19th century, that cities such as New York and London would, by the early 20th century, be buried in mountains of it. This has been dubbed “The Great Horse Manure Crisis of 1894” which, of course, never came to pass.

In retrospect, it is easy to see that the 19th-century alarmists missed the technological revolution that was about to replace horses with vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, which averted the “crisis.”

What is striking about the AAMC report is that it fails to consider the impact of the technologies that are poised to revolutionize medical practice. In fact, the report assumes that we will be practicing medicine in 2030 more or less the same way we are practicing now, which is not only depressing to contemplate but extremely unlikely.

Here are just a few things that we already know about, which seem destined to change medical practice, separate and apart from any unanticipated technological or organizational breakthroughs:

Post navigation

8 thoughts on “Workforce Predictions and Horse Manure”

There is ALREADY a major shortage of physicians practicing primary care and psychiatry, The shortage is particularly acute in my field, child and adolescent psychiatry with wait times of months to see a specialist in NY, the state one of the with highest concentrations of child psychiatrist! (The shortage in other specialties may be less acute).

Part of the problem is that the US population is growing, while the yearly output of new physicians had been stable for years (there is a fixed number of residency spots). And I hope you are not relying on artificial intelligence in 10 years to deliver a baby, perform surgery, or even treat aggressive behaviors children. Consumerism and self-care is likewise inadequate substitute for a primary care doctor.

I think it would behoove us to recall we to not speak in a vacuum; others will raise their hands, “volunteering” to fix the problem we proclaim, while we wring ours.

Instead, we need to educate each other:
Ortho: Teach/encourage FP to treat simple fractures within their own practices, not send them to you(r PA.)
Cardio: Teach FP how to read EKGs and treat heart disease, not refer them to you(r NP.)
etc.
Not everyone needs to see a limitedist (aka, “specialist.”) When we fix our own house, we’ll find there are plenty of physicians, real ones.

Author

This blog isn’t about sharing information; it’s about starting conversations. And since good conversations require good listening, I decided to call this blog “Auscultation.” Ira Nash, MD, FACC, FAHA, FACP

The views expressed here are solely the personal views of Ira Nash, MD and do not necessarily represent the policy or position of Northwell Health Physician Partners, Northwell Health or any of their affiliates, employees or physicians.

About Ira Nash, MD

Ira Nash, MD is the Executive Director of Northwell Health Physician Partners, and Senior Vice President of Northwell Health, and a professor of Cardiology and Population Health at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine.